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My S207 books arrived yesterday! They are quite a colourful set I must say. There are eight of them, but the first one does not really count as it is more on an introduction booklet rather than actual learning material. It still is an interesting read though. I have only very briefly leafed though some of the other ones.

At around 200-250 pages per book the eight stacked do make a solid block. For a 60 credit module i’d expect nothing less (the combined 60 credits from MST121 & MS221 are actually around the same height when stacked next to each other).

I have already worked my way through most of book 1 and and am itching in anticipation to get stuck in and start book 2 (which is about motion). But I had better finish my SXR103 EMA first I guess.

The OUSBA forms for SXP288 Mallorca arrived a few days ago. I just need to fill them in tonight and send it off this weekend. Yippee. Lancaster University is not looking so far away now! 😛

***Edit: I do realise that there has been some rather large gaps between posting my “spurts”. I’ll try to post more often and not leave gaps.***

Well, I passed MST121 with a semi-respectable 70% and MS221 with a much lower mark (due to exam stress helping me get a low mark in the exam). My TMA average for MS221 however was also a semi-respectable 70% (so i’ll just count that and leave the exam as a lesson learnt).

I am busy working off the SXR103 EMA at the moment and should have it done within a week or so. I am a bit behind everyone else with it, but I had some issues that needed attending to. But I am confident that I will do alright in this one.

Signed up for S207 and SXP288 already and just waiting for the OUSBA forms in the mail (hate that feeling when the mail comes and it’s nothing you want). I will however be dedicating MUCH more time to S207 as I felt that I did not work at all to my potential with MST121 and MS221. I believe should have easily pulled 80-85% or higher on both of those if I had better study habits (which I hope have now corrected). But we will see how it hold.

Copious amounts of World of Warcraft, Dungeon Keeper and Final Fantasy VII has been played. I realise now that I may have played a little too much and studied too little.

My last assignments for MST121 TMA04 & CMA42 are coming up in a couple of weeks (this assignment covers the whole course), quickly followed by the final assignment for MS221 TMA04 (which also covers the whole course). So within the space of a month, I have to ensure that I know ALL the material from BOTH modules. And considering that right now I do not, I guess have a lot of work ahead of me.

I do not think that this will be a problem, as I generally know my stuff. I just need to do a little catching up and revising really.

I also had a surprise module come up, so I will also be doing SXP103 on the 21st of July. I thought it could be done next year, but it seems I cannot postpone it as it is being discontinued after this year. I NEED this module to enter Lancaster, meaning my only choice is to take it now.

Well, a few days ago I received my MST121 revision pack in the post. I was thrilled as it was nice and chunky, just how mail should be 🙂

The Pack contains the main revision book (which is also available on the Open University website in your personal student section in PDF format, along with other learning material), a TMA (Tutor Marked Assignment) and CMA (Computer Marked Assignment. They are the initial “practice” ones and do not count toward your final mark) and a little instruction / information booklet.

The revision book itself is 169 pages and covers:

Numbers (Factors, Powers/Indices, Roots, etc.)

Measures (Units, Formulas)

Basic Figures (Triangles, Rectangles, etc.)

Coordinates and Lines (Cartesian Coordinates)

Algebra

Trigonometry

Graphs and Functions

Geometry

And of course contains a solutions part at the back of the book.

Other than that, not a lot new has happened unfortunately. I am also struggling to get the hours to study, so I am a fair bit behind where I should be. I have only covered Numbers, Measures and Algebra (Still not finished Algebra fully) from the other book I was learning from.

So I have finished the Maths Skills book from The Open University. Although it is a lot shorter than I thought it was (only 139 pages, as the remaining 166 are made up of answers). All in all, i’d say the “Maths Skills” booklet very useful to keep handy. Gave me a rock solid understanding of the basics.

Now I have to either start studying from my own materials, or wait for the Revision Pack that comes with MST121. Also, they recommend that you also are familiar with the following before starting MST121:

Algebraic manipulation, such as multiplying out brackets, factorisation of simple expressions, interpreting inequalities and solving linear and quadratic equations.

Properties of triangles, rectangles and circles.

The trigonometric ratios sine, cosine and tangent.

Equations of straight lines.

Quadratic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, and their graphs.

So if I have to wait long for the revision pack, I might just start revising some of these.

Also, for anyone wondering about MST121 and MS221, I have found a nice website that shows exactly what books are supplied with the course (although they are dated from 2007/2008 so some things might have changed).

Well, unfortunately I do not qualify for UK student prices nor any form of financial assistance (yet students from the EU do…) so I will be forced for this year to pay the full whack. I am hoping that this will change, due to the fact that I would have resided in the UK for three years as of June next year. So, fingers crossed.

Studying maths is going fine. Still on the bare basics, but I have never had such a clear understanding of them before! I have a feeling that this will greatly aid me very soon (I should be getting the MST121 preparatory stuff soon).

Also for anyone reading this blog, let me know if you want me to post my notes. It would be a great way to revise what I have learnt thus far, so I have no problem doing it.